The lines were short and the crowds nearly nonexistent as New Yorkers headed to the polls for the first day of early voting on Saturday. 

The early voting period kicked off ahead of the mayoral Democratic primary on June 22 — a pivotal election in which New Yorkers will not only choose a new mayor, but also nearly every municipal office across the city.

“This one is a big one for New York," Stephanie, a voter in Brooklyn who declined to give her last name told NY1. “I thought it was important to tell my network, ‘I voted and you should, too.’”

What You Need To Know

  • For the first time ever in a Democratic mayoral primary, New York City voters headed to the polls for the start of early voting

  • This year, nearly every municipal office is on the ballot. New Yorkers will be picking a new mayor, City Council candidates, borough presidents and a new district attorney in Manhattan

  • For the first time, voters are using a new system of ranked-choice voting

Michelle Tege and Michelle Randall were on their usual morning power walk alongside the Brooklyn Museum and decided to make a pit stop to cast their vote early.

“Healthy body, healthy mind, and as we were going by, we saw this is my polling site, so I’m here to take advantage of a short line and the ability to get this done right away,” Tege said.

Randall, who said she is worried about rising crime in the city, said she wanted to make sure her voice was heard in the coming elections.

“We want our politicians to know that, with an educated voter, everything that they’re saying we’re going to hold them accountable, because my vote counts,” Randall said.

Early voting in this primary comes at a pivotal time of recovery for the city.

Shootings are on the rise, the economy has not yet fully rebounded after the COVID-19 crisis and there are all the preexisting issues before the pandemic: the cost of housing, education, transportation and quality of life.

For Karen Brown, 52, the primary issue is rising gun violence.

“For me, it’s crime, crime and the price of housing, that’s the most important thing for me,” Brown said.

This year, nearly every municipal office is on the ballot. New Yorkers will be picking a new mayor, City Council candidates, borough presidents and a new district attorney in Manhattan.

And for the first time, voters are using a new system of ranked-choice voting.

Allison Corwin said she was looking forward to ranking her candidates. She supported the ballot measure that created the new system in 2019 and believes it's a better way of allowing people to vote.

"I think it gives people choices. I think there is closeness in the race, but I think it matters when you go through and can make your voice heard as we go through the rounds," Corwin said. "It’s important to rank people and not to rank people."

Turnout at the Brooklyn Museum was steady throughout the day, but not like the numbers recorded during the presidential primary and the general elections.

Historically, primaries are low-turnout contests, but there is hope that making voting more accessible will attract more New Yorkers to fulfill their civic duty.

"Every election counts, even the ones leading up to the general because of what is done at the state and local level, so I think turnout will be OK,” Stephanie told NY1.

The early voting period lasts through June 20. There are 104 early voting sites across the city.

The best way to find your location is by going on VOTE.NYC.